The world’s current craze for fitness has dived from land into water, and the pools of Israel are no exception. Sweat and groans can be dispensed within the quest for svelte shape. Instead of a workout drenched in sweat, abs can be toned and weights lifted while cool water washes over the body and the mind relaxes to music. 

Aqua gym used to be a well kept secret, limited to senior homes and rehabilitation facilities. Now it is spreading to pools from Metulla to Eilat.

It has long been known that limbs move more freely in water, with medical facilities offering physical therapy in pools. Water therapy targets the sufferer of back problems, post operative care, and a variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions. It does more than alleviate muscles, it actively promotes cure. In fact, most people initially come to aqua gym as an answer to a physical complaint, only to stay on as loyal water exercisers after their initial problem has been solved.

It is precisely on the recreational front that aqua gym is blossoming. Even more than other sports, it can be enjoyed at its own speed, with every level of participation beneficial. In the Israeli climate cooling down while working out is a double blessing.

As classes open in pools and sports facilities to meet growing demand, instructors are flocking to join the field. Instructors undergo a course of 112 hours given at Wingate Institute, Sapir College, and Bet Yaacov religious seminary and 750 trainers have been certified since 1994. However, not all pools, especially in hotels, employ certified instructors.

This past summer a record 140 aqua instructors participated in an international conference in Raanana sponsored by the International Aquatic Exercise Association and the Israeli Aquatic Exercise Center. Many attended in order to fulfill the continuing education requirement for renewing their certification.  The conference was organized by Mushi Harush, president of the Israeli center, who also represents the international body. Harush, who pioneered aqua gym in Israel, wrote her master’s thesis on the effects of water exercise upon the bone density of menopausal women.

With an average age decades younger than many of their students, the enthusiastic attendees of the conference filled the enormous town pool of Raanana. The conference was rounded out by students of individual instructors who took the opportunity for a day of total aqua immersion.

Experts gave “master classes” in a variety of techniques. Several sessions were taught by Julie See, the doyenne of water aerobics and President of the American-based Aquatic Exercise Association who flew in for the conference. Her class was complemented by written material included detailed sheets of model lessons. Building on different levels of aerobic difficulty, they resembled instructions for dance choreography. Other workshops were led by local experts, including Mushi Harush, who focused on deep water exercises incorporating techniques of water sports. Anat Gerber led a session stressing a mix of aerobic and strength exercises, and Gilad Naaman Perry’s approach aimed at teaching techniques of pain reduction. Every instructor conveyed his personality as well as his knowledge, with the American-led session reminiscent of cheerleading and feel good encouragement, while Harush’s energetic exhortations had overtones of sports team training.

Most of the instructors learned through working out themselves; others resisted the urge to jump into the pool and stayed dry to diligently take notes on new routines or videotape the workshops for later viewing.

Instructors took home their sharpened skills nearby to Herzliya and Ramat Hasharon, and farway to Ashdod and Jerusalem. One aim is to ignite the enthusiasm of a younger age group towards this new/old sport. The biggest challenge: attracting the population sector most conspicuously absent from water gymnastics - men.

P.S. it's recommended to pick up the phone and call around because many pools offer aqua gym classes